New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-10
CAR HFITING.

Mr.. Chauncey NJ. Depew il no doubt right IN
saving that n fortune awaits the inventor of a
safe mode OF heating railway oars. But IL IL
moi uuife 10 certain that the railroad managers
are prepared to recognize simultaneously tho
best method when it Is evolved neither is IL
bpyond question that the best method has not
already been devised. The history ~ railroad
ing like nil other history. Is n record OF gradual
and often reluctant Improvement. New ideas
have not been adopted quickly but as II rule
only after the resistance OF conservatism has
exhausted itself Sometimes, too. this resist
ance has been strengthened by the co-opera ion
of false economy, and it is open tn suspicion
that when many inventions arc declared
impracticable." the real trnth is that they
appear to involve greater expenditure than
directors can bring themselves to approve.
The history OF the = battle OF fhe brakes " is in
point. The superiority Of the air brake over
the hand brake was established beyond serious
controversy Mt an early period of tho contest /;
but how many corporations continued to fight
against progress, against public interests,
against even their own interests, and for years.
In defiance OF evidence and experience, refused
to adopt the air 5rasef
This case-and it is only one of series
shows that it will not do to take for grant cd
either the ability OF all railroad corporations to
perceive at once what Is best, or To adopt 1t
promptly when is superiority has been demon
strated. In tho matter of car heating TIE usual
hindrances TO reform must be looked for. Mr.
Depew has pointed out through the columns of
The TRIBUNE some OF the difficulties to DO
overcome, but it may be concluded without
much danger OF error that some of these diff
culties when closely examined resolve them
selves into questions OF economy. or perhaps of
parsimony. Thus tbs practical Obstacles to
any methot of hcating BY steam do not seem so
formidable as they are represented if il ia ouly
provided that there is n Willingness on the part
of the railroads to bear whatever additional
expense reform may require. 1t might DO
found that stationary heating apparatus at
functions and other places where trains ara
shifted ard made up WIS necessary, and thi.
would involve considerable outlay both for
plant and extra labor. But the mere detacb-
ment and rea:tachment Of cars could not In
itself be fatal difficulty, for. though on n
smaller scale, the same thing has to be done
already in connection with the Westinghouse
brake system and also with the beating system
of tho Elevated railroads in this city.
The manipulation Of an extra set OF njnes
would perhaps involve some little loss Of ,ims
a. well as additional expense. But It cannot
be impraciicable to furnish more steam than NJ
present ia produced by the engine. for there ara
many ways in which this could be done. all az
which would be feasible il the uuestion of
expense did not complicate the matter. That
consideration, however, is clearly not one uoun
which tbs railroads can att ri to make n s,and
seeing that their first duty |, to the public ami
that the safety of the traveller must and will be
held by the common wealth "a superior IN
Importance to the earning OF dividends for the
stockholders. But in effect no railroad bss
ever lost money by perfecting its service. Il ia
the public who pay In the end for all io,nrove. |
ments. and suce this Is the case there can be |
no excuse for delaying to adopt safer metbods
on the ground Of cost. The safe heating of |
railroad car. ought to be insisted upou. L.
cannot bs believed that American Invention |
fails before this problem. Hitherto the cor |
porstions have been allowed to daily with the |
question notwithstanding the long catalogue Of
horrors canned BY tho present mode Of heating.
The application Of pressure to tho responsible
persons would quite posaibly aaaist thsm In
realizing the prsctioshility of some Of thu plsua